Chapter 3233

Breakfast ended in an eerie silence.

Jin Chen and Chenshu left the leisure area first, saying they had things to handle, not forgetting to remind Yiqi and Bai Ze that they must wear their rings.

Yiqi, who had nothing to do and wasn't allowed to fight, wandered from the cinema to the arcade, treating it as a date with Bai Ze.

He exchanged a pile of coins, pulled Bai Ze to play several rounds of shooting games, then went to the claw machine, squatted for ten minutes, grabbed an ugly plush rabbit, held it up and shook it at Bai Ze, his eyes crinkling with laughter.

Bai Ze looked at him, his mask covering most of his face, the visible brows and eyes smiling, he raised a hand to ruffle Qiqi's hair, letting Qiqi play to his heart's content, then pushed him into a corner, willfully and domineeringly hooking his mask, murmuring a sticky demand for a kiss.

On the way, they passed a tea lounge, and the two found a window-side seat and sat down.

Bai Ze ordered a pot of red tea and several plates of snacks, and at Qiqi's request added a fruit platter; after the server brought them, Bai Ze stood, leaned over and said to Qiqi, "I'll go get you some fruit—there looks to be freshly cut over there."

Qiqi glanced up at him, lifted the just-brewed red tea and took a sip; the flavor was bland and uninteresting.

"Okay," he replied, lowering his head to continue sipping the red tea.

Bai Ze turned and walked toward the corner of the tea lounge, where there was a screen; behind the screen led to a side door of the back kitchen.

The instant Bai Ze turned, Qiqi's gaze lifted from the rim of the cup, his pupils shifting, staring fixedly in that direction without blinking.

As expected, after Bai Ze went around the screen, he disappeared.

Qiqi set the tea cup down, his fingertips tensing and curling, eyes downcast as he silently counted down five minutes.

Meanwhile, in the staff passage behind the screen, Bai Ze had just turned the corner when someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind.

"Sure enough, it's you," the person behind him said softly.

Bai Ze turned around and saw Pak standing before him—the very subordinate who had stood behind Qibuman at breakfast.

Pak looked at him, his expression complex, and continued in a low voice, "I really couldn't believe it. Your appearance this morning……"

Bai Ze didn't respond, straightened his body, and quietly regarded Pak, "What do you want with me?"

Pak had no time for pleasantries; he had sneaked out, glanced left and right to make sure no one else was in the passage, then lowered his voice and spoke quickly: "We have two tasks this time: the X potion, and Selina."

He looked into Bai Ze's eyes, paused, and said, "You can defy the Dean for Qiqi's sake, but don't forget Selina…… she's your enemy."

Bai Ze's hand at his side clenched slightly; whenever he thought of that name, that night, countless images flashed through his mind, and he could not suppress the anger welling in his chest.

Pak said, "We've received word that Selina checked into the hotel's suite last night."

Bai Ze's tone was flat: "I know."

Pak looked at him, sighed, patted his shoulder again, his tone complex: "And then what?"

"If Qiqi knew his mother was…… what would you do?"

Bai Ze's lashes drooped, hiding the turmoil in his eyes: "I have my own plans; you needn't worry."

Pak glanced at his watch, said nothing more, and turned to hurry away.

Bai Ze stood where he was for a dozen seconds.

He leaned against the wall, the back of his head touching the cool surface, a piercing pain drilling into his chest.

After his breathing eased, Bai Ze straightened up, walked to the counter beside the screen, picked up the fruit platter and a plate of freshly baked snacks, lifted them, and was about to return when he collided with Qiqi's unwavering stare.

Qiqi didn't know when he had walked to the edge of the screen, staring at him unblinking.

Bai Ze's heart skipped a half-beat, "……How did you come over?"

Qiqi stepped forward, raised a hand to touch Bai Ze's brows and eyes, feeling somewhat distressed, "Who are you hating? Why are you so angry?"

Bai Ze stiffened all over. Qiqi's observational skills had always been sharper than he imagined.

"Is your enemy also in District Four?" Qiqi asked.

Bai Ze fell silent for a moment, "……Yes."

Qiqi did not press further.

He lowered his hand from Bai Ze's brows, gently wrapped his arms around his waist, lips pressing to the skin of Bai Ze's neck, raining delicate kisses, as if soothing.

"Brother, I'll help you; don't be sad."

In an instant, Bai Ze painfully closed his eyes, his throat almost choking up.

He greedily felt Qiqi's kisses landing on his skin, being cared for in body and mind by Qiqi, held tightly in an embrace.

Even knowing the choice he was about to make, all his concealment made him feel unworthy of such tenderness.

Yet Bai Ze could not help but sink into it.

Even if it was only a fleeting dream with a day left.

——

That evening, the auction's opening event was held in the hotel's top-floor banquet hall.

The venue was divided into two levels: the first floor had open seating, the second floor a ring of private boxes, each box able to view the auction stage below through one-way glass, while ensuring those inside could not be seen from outside.

Inside the boxes, the lighting was dimmed, leaving only a few warm-toned wall sconces.

Qiqi had little interest in the auction itself.

He sat cross-legged on the Sofa, idly flipping through the auction catalog on the table before tossing it aside.

Bai Ze brought a drink to his lips, and Qiqi sniffed it, saying, "What is this? It smells wonderful."

Qiqi shifted over to nestle in Bai Ze's embrace, drinking with Bai Ze's hand guiding the cup; a bit of fruit pulp clung to the rim, and after finishing he lifted his head and kissed Bai Ze's corner of the mouth.

Bai Ze lowered his gaze to him, brushed his finger over the fruit juice at Qiqi's lip corner, and asked, "Tasty?"

Qiqi nodded with satisfaction.

In the hall, the auction proceeded, items displayed one by one, bids called, deals made.

Bai Ze lowered his head, quietly holding Qiqi, affectionately rubbing his cheek.

Qiqi's eyelids slowly drooped; he yawned and then settled his head to sleep peacefully.

About a minute later, Qiqi fell into a deep sleep.

Bai Ze closed his eyes, his eye sockets gradually growing sore; he turned his head to the side, his lips tenderly pressing against Qiqi's mouth corner for a few seconds, as if bidding farewell.

After a while, Bai Ze gently laid Qiqi flat on the Sofa, pulled over the nearby blanket to cover him, and tucked in the edges.

Then he half-kneeled in front of the sofa, his hand propped on the soft cushion beside Ziqi's cheek, lowering his head to leave a final kiss on his forehead.

Bai Ze stood up, turned, and walked out of the private room.